Papua New Guinea's prime minister Peter O'Neill says Australia will begin sending police officers to PNG in November to bolster the Pacific nation's law and order.
Mr O'Neill told reporters Australia's new prime minister Tony Abbott has agreed to follow up on a deal made by his predecessor, Kevin Rudd, to send 50 to PNG hotspots.
The first 34 police will arrive in November, with 16 going to Morobe province, the area where two PNG porters were killed and Australian trekkers and local guides were wounded in a bandit attack on Tuesday.
Mr O'Neill told the Post Courier Newspaper the Australian government has pledged to fund up to 150 police officers.
He added this is a short term engagement and not a permanent arrangement.
